"I was tumbled out upon the shore, I don't know how," declared Hund; "found myself sprawling on a rock, while the creature's cries brought my heart into my mouth as I lay."
"Alone? Were you alone?" asked his mistress.
"I had landed the pastor some hours before, madame; and I took nobody else with me, as Stiorna can tell, for she saw me go."
"Stiorna is at the mountain," observed madame coolly.
"But, Hund," said Oddo, "how did Nipen take hold of you when it laid you sprawling on the rock? Neck and heels? Or did it bid you go and hearken whether the pirates were coming, and whip away the boat before you came back? Are you quite sure that you sprawled on the rock at all before you ran away from the horrible cry you speak of? Our rocks are very slippery when Nipen is at one's heels."
Hund stared at Oddo, and his voice was yet hoarser when he said that he had long thought that boy was a favourite with Nipen, and he was sure of it now.
Erica had thrown herself down on the sand hiding her face on her hands, on the edge of the boat, as if in despair of her misery being attended to—her questions answered. Old Peder stood beside her, stroking her hair tenderly, and he now spoke the things she could not.
"Attend to me, Hund," said Peder, in the grave, quiet tone which every one regarded. "Hear my words; and for your own sake answer them. We suspect you of being in communication with the pirates yonder; we suspect that you went to meet them when you refused to go hunting the bears. We know that you have long felt ill-will towards Rolf—envy of him—jealousy of him—and——"
Here Erica looked up, pale as ashes, and said: "Do not question him further. There is no truth in his answers. He spoke falsehood even now."
Peder knew how Hund shrank under this, and thought the present the moment to get truth out of him, if he ever could speak it. He therefore went on to say—